gbranham
12-09-2023, 02:11 PM
Once I realized the Wilwood bleeder valve actually has a smaller nut at the top that you loosen, rather than the entire bleeder valve body (duh), the process of bleeding my brakes was a piece of cake. I have FFR Wilwoods, dual Wilwood master cylinders, and I'm using the single FFR-supplied brake fluid reservoir.
1) I 'bench bled' the M/Cs while installed in the car, by installing temporary plastic fittings on each, and attaching hose to each one, and then put the other end in a mason jar half-filled with brake fluid. I then filled the reservoir, and ensured the hoses were down in the mason jar fluid. Pumped the brake pedal 20-30 times until there were no more bubbles. Reinstalled my brake lines to the M/Cs. Called it done.
2) I then attached my pressure bleeder (Amazon special, $60), and made sure the reservoir was full. Pressurized to 10PSI. Started at the back passenger side, and loosened the bleeder. It took about 4 seconds to fill that line and start to spew out the bleeder. I did the inboard upper bleeder valve first, then the outboard. I then sealed that caliper's bleeders up tight, double-checked the reservoir to make sure it still had plenty of brake fluid (it did), and then did the driver's side rear. Rinse and repeat for the front, passenger side first, making sure the reservoir was full before each corner. I went round the horn twice just to make sure. Pedal was rock-solid.
3) I then cleaned up my mess (mostly on the floor under each corner), and once again pressurized the system with 10PSI. I put cardboard under each fitting on the car and left it alone overnight. No drips whatsoever. Success!
I've used a lot of double-flare kits over the years, but this one has been the best. Also an Amazon special at $45, it was super simple, and every flare was perfect the first time; I had to redo exactly zero of them.
Anyway, hope this helps some folks getting ready to do this task. Never have I had an easier time of bleeding a new brake setup than this time. Pressure bleeder is awesome. Oh, and I did not fill the pressure bleeder with any fluid. Just made sure I had the reservoir cap it came with nice and tight on the reservoir. It comes with a tool to make sure.
Sorry for the sideways pics. I've found I can only get them oriented properly if I take them in landscape mode with my phone camera, and I forgot to do that. But, you get the jist.
193082193083
1) I 'bench bled' the M/Cs while installed in the car, by installing temporary plastic fittings on each, and attaching hose to each one, and then put the other end in a mason jar half-filled with brake fluid. I then filled the reservoir, and ensured the hoses were down in the mason jar fluid. Pumped the brake pedal 20-30 times until there were no more bubbles. Reinstalled my brake lines to the M/Cs. Called it done.
2) I then attached my pressure bleeder (Amazon special, $60), and made sure the reservoir was full. Pressurized to 10PSI. Started at the back passenger side, and loosened the bleeder. It took about 4 seconds to fill that line and start to spew out the bleeder. I did the inboard upper bleeder valve first, then the outboard. I then sealed that caliper's bleeders up tight, double-checked the reservoir to make sure it still had plenty of brake fluid (it did), and then did the driver's side rear. Rinse and repeat for the front, passenger side first, making sure the reservoir was full before each corner. I went round the horn twice just to make sure. Pedal was rock-solid.
3) I then cleaned up my mess (mostly on the floor under each corner), and once again pressurized the system with 10PSI. I put cardboard under each fitting on the car and left it alone overnight. No drips whatsoever. Success!
I've used a lot of double-flare kits over the years, but this one has been the best. Also an Amazon special at $45, it was super simple, and every flare was perfect the first time; I had to redo exactly zero of them.
Anyway, hope this helps some folks getting ready to do this task. Never have I had an easier time of bleeding a new brake setup than this time. Pressure bleeder is awesome. Oh, and I did not fill the pressure bleeder with any fluid. Just made sure I had the reservoir cap it came with nice and tight on the reservoir. It comes with a tool to make sure.
Sorry for the sideways pics. I've found I can only get them oriented properly if I take them in landscape mode with my phone camera, and I forgot to do that. But, you get the jist.
193082193083